Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 17 446
The Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications (ELSI) of Genomics Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program (R21) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity (PA-17-446) designed to support early-stage, innovative research on the real-world consequences of human genomics. The focus is on ELSI questions that arise from genome research and its downstream applications, including how genomic information is generated, interpreted, shared, governed, and used in clinical care, public health, research settings, and society more broadly. The program is positioned as an exploratory and developmental mechanism, meaning it is meant to help investigators test new ideas, open up emerging areas of inquiry, and produce initial evidence that can justify and shape larger, more definitive future studies.
Projects submitted under this announcement are expected to be genuinely exploratory in nature. NIH is looking for studies that break new ground, push prior findings into new contexts, or produce preliminary data needed for subsequent large-scale work. Applicants may propose single-method or mixed-methods designs, which creates room for qualitative research (for example, interviews, focus groups, ethnography, or deliberative forums), quantitative studies (such as surveys, experimental vignettes, or modeling), and combined approaches that connect lived experience and stakeholder perspectives with measurable outcomes. While the scope is broad, the FOA highlights particular interest in research that keeps pace with new or emerging genomic technologies and novel uses of genomic data, where ethical, legal, and social questions often surface faster than norms, policies, and best practices can adapt.
In practical terms, this opportunity is meant for research that examines questions such as fairness, equity, and access in genomic medicine; the potential for discrimination or stigma; privacy, consent, and data governance challenges; return of results and responsibilities to patients, families, or research participants; the meaning and impact of uncertainty in genomic findings; communication and understanding of genomic risk; and the implications of integrating genomics with other data streams or systems. The emphasis on emerging technologies also signals relevance to areas like large-scale sequencing in health systems, expanding use of polygenic risk scores, new approaches to data sharing and cloud-based analysis, consumer genomics, and novel secondary uses of genomic information. Overall, the aim is to generate actionable insights that can inform ethical practice, legal and regulatory approaches, and socially responsible innovation in genomics.
The funding instrument is an NIH grant using the R21 mechanism, which typically supports shorter, higher-risk, early-concept projects rather than mature programs of research. The listed award ceiling is $200,000. The opportunity falls under a discretionary grant category and spans multiple NIH activity areas (education, environment, health, income security, and social services), reflecting the cross-cutting nature of ELSI work. The FOA is associated with multiple CFDA numbers, indicating that it can align with several NIH institutes and centers depending on the scientific topic and mission fit.
Eligibility is intentionally broad to encourage participation from a wide range of organizations and communities. Eligible applicants include state, county, city, township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions in those specific nonprofit categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other eligible entities. The FOA also explicitly notes additional eligible applicant types such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, tribal governments other than federally recognized, and non-U.S. (foreign) organizations. This breadth is important because ELSI questions often depend on community context, cultural values, health system structure, and local policy environments, and the program appears designed to support that diversity of perspectives.
The source information lists an original closing date of July 28, 2020, and a creation date of August 1, 2017, which indicates the announcement was released in 2017 with a closing date recorded for 2020. Anyone considering applying would need to verify whether the FOA is still active, has been reissued, or has moved to a successor announcement, since NIH often updates or replaces FOAs over time.Apply for PA 17 446
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, environment, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications (ELSI) of Genomics Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program (R21)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.113, 93.172, 93.173, 93.307, 93.399, 93.853, 93.855, 93.865, 93.866.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2017-08-01.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-07-28. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $200,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.
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